So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel GoKollab For Communities.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing everything under one roofing system seems like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred set of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap dealt with every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I desire I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect team of contacts. Completely unnecessary web content. 3 days straight. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You have to accessibility 3 different setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to like the adaptability, however every little thing about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not envision what it’s like for somebody just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that begin piling up. I saw random $10 charges appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment fees via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel GoKollab For Communities.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, developing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– check out the actual expense.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonials out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Find individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that actually functions the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for client partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not make believe or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well difficult to develop something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that simply function.